| India Women vs South Africa Women | |
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MATCH INFO |
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MATCH :
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India Women vs South Africa Women
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COMPETITION :
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Womens World Cup Final
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| DATE: |
02-11-2025
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TIME:
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03.00 PM IST
01.30 PM UAE
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STADIUM
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Dr. DY Patil, Navi Mumbai |
Harmanpreet Kaur: Leading with Heart at India’s Home World Cup
When Shreya Ghoshal’s voice rang out across the Guwahati night, Harmanpreet Kaur stood still — eyes closed, lips moving in perfect sync with the national anthem. For India’s captain, those first 52 seconds of her home World Cup were sacred.
Moments like these have defined Harmanpreet’s leadership this tournament — quiet, grounded, and deeply human. In Colombo, when a young volunteer almost missed the chance to walk out for the national anthem after her assigned player fell ill, it was Harmanpreet who stepped in, smiling, and walked out holding the hands of two children instead of one.
And in Navi Mumbai, ahead of India’s semifinal against Australia, she did something no one expected — she handed over the team huddle to a young girl, letting her give the pre-match pep talk. It was a spontaneous, heartfelt act, a glimpse into the kind of captain Harmanpreet has become — open, unafraid, and inclusive.
This World Cup marks her first as captain, and perhaps her last. That vulnerability has shown through. When India sealed their place in the final, Harmanpreet couldn’t hold back her tears — the kind that tell stories of years of struggle and pride. In 2017, it was her unforgettable 171* that carried India past Australia. Eight years later, it was Jemimah Rodrigues’ turn to script that triumph, while Harmanpreet watched from the dugout, tears streaming down — the torch quietly passed on.
Those tears reflected not just emotion, but evolution — of a team, of a captain, of Indian women’s cricket.
The Journey and the Joy
Harmanpreet is soaking in every bit of what this moment means. On the eve of the final, she quipped, “It’s good that there’s pressure not just for cricket, but also for arranging tickets!” Her laughter filled the room, but behind the humour lay a truth — women’s cricket in India has arrived at a place where full houses and ticket chaos are the new normal.
At DY Patil Stadium, crowds thronged the box office after India’s thrilling semifinal win over Australia. The demand was proof of how far the game — and Harmanpreet’s team — have come.
“The semifinal was very intense,” she admitted. “After that, recovery became our focus. We’ve been working hard for years, and now it’s about keeping ourselves fresh for the final.”
For India, this is the third appearance in a 50-over World Cup final — but the first on home soil in front of a sold-out crowd. The journey hasn’t been smooth. Three narrow losses earlier in the campaign raised questions about the team’s nerve. But Harmanpreet’s leadership kept them steady.
“We weren’t shaken even once,” she said. “Everyone stayed together and believed we could still reach the final. That positive mindset brought us here.”
Staying Balanced, Staying Real
In a high-stakes home tournament, emotional balance can be as important as skill. Harmanpreet knows it. “In a home World Cup, emotions run high,” she said. “But keeping yourself focused and relaxed is the key. This is the biggest opportunity for us as players and as a team — we just want to enjoy it.”
For her, enjoyment and emotion go hand in hand. “I’m a very emotional person — I cry at everything,” she smiled. “Maybe yesterday was the first time people saw it on television, but my teammates have seen me cry many times, even after wins. I always tell my team — you don’t need to control your emotions. If you feel like crying, cry.”
It’s this openness that has redefined her captaincy. No pretense, no armour — just honesty, joy, and heart.
The Final Push
Now, standing one step away from history, Harmanpreet knows exactly what’s at stake. “We know how it feels to lose,” she said. “Now we want to know what it feels like to win.”
For a generation of players who grew up inspired by her 2017 heroics, this final is about finishing what she started — not just winning a trophy, but lifting the sport itself.
As she put it simply: “There’s no bigger motivation than a home World Cup final.”